UMES Small Farm Conference

[Future Harvest - CASA]

UMES SMALL FARM CONFERENCE RETURNS

PRINCESS ANNE, MD – (September 11, 2012) – The month of November
signals
a long list of special days, including the Thanksgiving holiday. For
more and more residents on the Delmarva Peninsula and the surrounding
areas, that list of special days includes the annual Small Farm
Conference slated for November 2 and 3 on the UMES campus.

Entering its 9th year, the conference provides a venue for farmers,
landowners and supporters of agriculture to come together to network
and
learn about new opportunities and strategies that promote farm
profitability and sustainability. Gary Matteson, vice president at
the
Farm Credit Council in Washington, D.C., delivers the keynote address
to
kick off the conference on Saturday. Previously a small farmer who
operated a greenhouse business growing anemones for the wholesale cut
flower market in Epsom, N.H., Matteson brought a great deal of
experience to his position, where he has served young, beginning and
small farmers and ranchers since 2008. Connecting directly with
organizations that advocate for minority farmers is another part of
his
duty as VP at Farm Credit.

Other conference highlights include sessions that are divided into
three
different educational tracks: alternative agriculture, farm business
and
marketing and health and wellness. Featured topics include:
Berry…licious! - Specialty “Niche” Berries, Beekeeping and Pollinator
Habitat, Selecting Crops to Fit A Cash Flow Plan, Marketing Outside
the
Box to Reach New Customers, and much more. Friday afternoon’s
pre-conference sessions begin at 2 p.m. and include a Value-Added
Opportunities for Woodland Owners tour, a sheep and goat tour, and a
hands-on Home Food Canning and Preservation Course that will be
offered
again on Saturday afternoon. Spaces are limited, so pre-registration
for the canning course is required.

AGsploration is the theme for the youth program. It encourages
awareness of production agriculture, how the environment affects
Maryland agriculture and how agriculture affects everyday life in
relation to nutrition and health. For more information concerning
the
youth programming, contact Nicole Skorobatsch at 410-651-1350 or by
email at nram...@umd.edu. Youth ages 6-12 are invited to attend.
Registration is $25 per person and $40 per couple. For youth
attending
with registered parents, registration is free. For youth who will
not
accompany a registered parent, registration is $10. All
registrations
must be received by Friday, October 26, and registrants who need
special
services or accommodations must call at least two weeks in advance to
make arrangements.

For more information about the 9th annual Small Farm Conference, call
410-651-6206/6070 or send an email to m...@umes.edu. Online
registration
and regularly updated information is available at
www.smallfarminstitute.com.